During halftime of his team’s game Tuesday night at Ahfachkee High School on the Seminole Big Cypress Reservation, Everglades City School basketball star Scout Morris knew he had a shot at history.

With 28 points, he was halfway to the school record of 56 when he had a talk with his teammates.

“I told them I really wanted the record, so they agreed that with it being my senior year, this might be my last shot to really go for it,” Morris said. “I was pretty hot at that point and they just kept feeding me the ball.”

Morris actually got hotter in the second half, scoring 22 points in the third quarter and 22 more in the fourth quarter to obliterate the record on his way to a truly phenomenal 72-point night in the Gators’ 95-70 win.

“Seventy-two points. I still don’t believe it when I say it,” he said. “It’s a night I’m always going to remember.”

Perhaps the most impressive part of his performance was the way he went about it, coach Becky Welch said.

“He really didn’t force bad shots at all,” she said. “We knew we could run a lot of fast breaks against them, and a good deal of his points game on fast break layups or putbacks on offensive rebounds. It’s crazy to say, but he really wasn’t being a ballhog. Our guys were doing a great job of finding him and he was doing a great job of finishing.”

Morris followed up his 72-point night with 52 more against Marco Island Academy on Thursday night, highlighting the Gators' 91-88 win.

Morris has already shattered most of Everglades City’s boys basketball records. If he scores 26 points in the team’s final six games, he’ll become the second Gators player to reach 2,000 points in a career. Lemont Burgess reached the milestone during the 1995-96 season. The way he's going right now, he may reach that mark by halftime of the Gators' next game against Canterbury on Monday.

Welch says Morris will always be remembered for his scoring prowess, but added his lasting legacy may be the way he’s carried himself off the court.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma on Sept. 10, Morris went around the flood- and storm-ravaged community in his boat, helping rescue people and pets and leading them to higher ground.

“He literally was everywhere in the community, trying to lend a helping hand,” Welch said. “He’s a young man who’s been raised very well by his family. A great basketball player but an even better person.”

Scout Morris, back, rides around Everglades City with his cousin Connor Weeks and his mother, Pastor Lynnette Morris, in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. Morris and his family took their boat around town to help neighbors arrive safely to shelter.(Photo: Submitted photo)

Scout’s father Caleb is a local firefighter, while his mom Lynnette is a minister at the Chokoloskee Church of God. The church was completely leveled by the storm, but was recently restored with the help of outside outreach organizations.

“I was glad I had an opportunity to step up and help my community,” Morris said. “And it was also good to see so many people help each other out in a time of need.”

Welch said in a small town like Everglades City, everyone knows each other, which sometimes leads to petty squabbles.

“You have your disagreements, but we saw during the storm that everyone in this town really pulls for one another,” she said. “We’re all in this together.”

Morris hopes to play basketball in college, and realizes he’ll likely have to do it at a small Division III school or a junior college. He’ll be participating in a showcase Feb. 25 in Miami for players who haven’t signed with a school yet.

“I’ve done a lot of praying about it, and it’s something I’d love to do if I get the chance,” he said.

Two years ago, Morris was the key cog in a renaissance season at Everglades City. The Gators won the district championship, making their first regional playoff appearance in 21 years. But with the Gators moving to a tougher district, the wins have been tougher to come by, especially this season. The victories over Ahfachkee and Marco Island Academy pushed Everglades City's season mark to 3-10.

“It’s been a rebuilding year. We lost a lot of seniors from last year’s team,” Morris said. “I’ve just wanted to do my part and help these younger players.”

Two of those young players are Morris’ cousins – eighth-grader Kenny Smallwood and seventh-grader Billy Smallwood. Both of the youngsters start alongside Morris.

“Billy has always said it would be his dream to play on the same team as Scout,” Welch said. “Well, this year he’s living the dream.”

Morris says he’s tried to be the best role model he can be for his cousins and the other underclassmen.

“They look up to me a lot, so I’m always trying to help them run drills and teach them things on the court,” he said. “Playing with my cousins is a pretty special thing.”

And like everyone on the floor Tuesday night, they’ll be able to say they were part of history.

“It’s something I’ll be able to tell the kids and grandkids one day, definitely,” Morris said. “I thank God for all he’s done for me. He’s enabled me to do what I do.”